3rd ex-Vanderbilt football player expected to leave jail today

Aug. 16, 2013

Cory Batey

Written by

Brian Haas

The Tennessean

A third former Vanderbilt University football player accused of raping an unconscious student in the Gillette Hall dormitory is expected to bond out of jail today.

Cory Batey, 19, of Nashville, has been scheduled for a bond source hearing at 9 a.m. today. At that type of hearing, judges and prosecutors ensure that money being put up for bond comes from lawful, legitimate sources. Bond source hearings are required for any case involving a bond of $75,000 or greater in Davidson County.

Batey had been jailed on $350,000 bond, charged along with three former teammates with five counts each of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Brandon Banks, 19, of Maryland, is free awaiting trial on $250,000 bond, and Jaborian “Tip” McKenzie, 18, from Mississippi, is free on $50,000 bond. Brandon Vandenburg, 20, from California, remains jailed on $350,000 bond and also is charged with unlawful photography and tampering with evidence.

Legal observers have speculated that McKenzie’s far lower bond indicates he may be cooperating with prosecutors.

All four are scheduled for an arraignment hearing Aug. 21, where the charges against them will be formally read and they will be given a chance to enter a plea. McKenzie has already waived his appearance at that hearing and pleaded not guilty.